July 25, 2010
So What?
James stated. . .
"YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD IS ONE; you do well. EVEN THE DEMONS BELIEVE -- and shudder!" ( James 2:19 ESV)
Can you almost hear James exclaim, "So what!"? So we believe in God! So what about it? To believe in God is to "do well". However, if it is merely intellectual acknowledgment we must DO BETTER. If we believe, how is it IMPACTING OUR LIFE? How is that belief BEING DEMONSTRATED? What difference is that belief making in association with our life choices and reaction to life situations? The context surrounding this verse reveals James' assumption that if faith in God is real, it will be MADE EVIDENT BY WORKS in the life. Not works to be saved, but works because we are saved! Works that would be a natural outgrowth of faith. Otherwise, James declared, the faith is "useless" (vs.20) and "dead" (vs.26).
There are some who seem to think belief in God is not a good thing. They don't want us to talk about it. There are also those who think belief in God is irrelevant. What does OUR LIFE REVEAL? Does our belief in God REALLY MEAN SOMETHING to us? Is it really MAKING A DYNAMIC DIFFERENCE in the manner in which we live our lives? If what we believe is going to be taken seriously by those around us, it needs to be SERIOUSLY DEMONSTRATED in the everyday actions of life. Because we believe in God we are to live in a manner which demonstrates we know Him and understand that His Will is the most relevant standard for any and every circumstance and situation life presents. May the genuineness and eternal significance of our belief in God be clearly evident.
Have a great day LIVING OUT THE RELEVANCE OF BELIEVING IN GOD!
Carl
See other teEn-MAIL on Belief
